Outage affects 2,800
May 22, 2006
A lightning arrestor failed and damaged one of two large transformers in the St. Helens substation at 12:05 a.m. on Saturday, causing low voltage and power outages for 2,800 customers in west St. Helens. Power was restored by 1:30 a.m. after crews switched loads to the other transformer.
The damaged transformer will remain out of service until it is repaired and tested; it is expected to return to service later this summer. The other transformer at the substation has sufficient capacity to serve the entire area until the damaged transformer can be put back into service.
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For more information, contact Libby Calnon, PUD Communication Specialist, at lca@crpud.org or (503) 366-3264.
Columbia River People's Utility District provides electric service to 17,500 customers in Columbia and Multnomah Counties in Oregon.
The PUD employs 48 people and had FY2005 gross revenues of $27 million.